Middle East

Feb. 18, 2014 | 04:00 PM

Syria rebels say planning Damascus spring offensive

Mohammed Abo Zayed, 75, from Daraa, cries as he tells the story of his three sons who he says were killed by Syrian government forces, at Zaatari Refugee Camp near the Syrian border, in Mafraq, Jordan, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Mohammad Hannon)

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Rebels in southern Syria say they are planning a spring offensive against Damascus, which regime and opposition sources say will include fighters trained by Western forces in neighbouring Jordan.

The Syrian army, meanwhile, is redeploying troops in Quneitra province located on the cease-fire line with Israel, and stepping up shelling on rebel positions in Daraa on the Jordan border to stop any advance, opposition fighters say.

Both regime and opposition sources say the offensive on Damascus will involve thousands of rebels who have been receiving combat training for the past year from the United States and other Western countries in Jordan.